Jane Elizabeth Grove Conaboy of Winchester, Virginia, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, at the age of 96 at Lynn Care Center in Front Royal, Virginia after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Known for her calm demeanor, quiet strength, and enduring grace, Jane lived a life marked by determination and devotion to her family, friends, colleagues and community.

Born and raised in Winchester, Jane was the daughter of the late Maynard E. and Eva Grace Grove. Jane was admired by friends and classmates, and cherished by a large, close-knit family. She grew up on Cameron Street in Winchester and enjoyed walking to John Kerr School and John Handley High School with her siblings, sledding down “Potato Hill,” and participating in the annual Apple Blossom Festival Pageants. She was a 1947 graduate of Handley and attended Westhampton College.

Jane left Westhampton to earn money for her tuition, moving to Pennsylvania to live with her beloved Aunt, Virginia “Ginny” Naddeo and her husband Frank. She worked with Ginny at Bell Telephone, a company that would become an important part of Jane’s professional and personal life.

While working at the phone company, Jane met a young company salesman, John Francis “Jack” Conaboy, a decorated WWII D-Day veteran who served with valor in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Jack and Jane were married in 1950 and moved to Jack’s hometown of Avoca, Pennsylvania, where they welcomed 5 children and built their life together.
Jane was widowed at the age of 39 when Jack passed away suddenly on Christmas Day in 1968. She moved forward as a single mother and returned to work at the phone company, supporting her children with steady resolve and determination. Once her three eldest sons graduated high school, Jane moved back to Winchester in 1972 to be closer to her extended family. She once again went to work for Bell Telephone, transferring to the Winchester office, working alongside her sister Mimi Cochran and sister-in-law Patty Grove.

Jane was a gifted artist who, though modest about her work, compiled a collection of signed and unsigned paintings that are treasured by her family. She was an avid gardener, always having a yard of colorful flowers. She was an accomplished cook combining the local foods of Northeastern Pennsylvania with the country cooking of her mother. Upon her retirement, she continued to paint, garden, and cook, and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, to whom she passed on her many talents.

She also enjoyed local history and working part-time at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center. In 1999, she was thrilled to travel to France with her son Mike and many of the 2nd Battalion Rangers to observe the 55th Anniversary of D-Day.

Jane’s was a life of perseverance – a child of the Great Depression, a widow at an early age working to raise a family, and a retirement cut short by Alzheimer’s Disease. She spent the final
years of her life at Lynn Care, where she was well loved and was affectionately referred to as the “beautiful woman with the beautiful blue eyes.”

She is survived by her children Mike Conaboy of Winchester, Virginia, Jack Conaboy (Julie) of Grove City, Ohio, Steve Conaboy (Kathy) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Karen McLaughlin of Falls Church, Virginia, and Tucker Conaboy (Becky) of Winchester, Virginia; sister Mimi Cochran, brother Robert Grove (Patty), sisters-in-law Helen Grove and Sandy Grove, and brother-in-law Everett Kibler; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, the youngest of whom was born the day before her passing, bringing joy and comfort to her family.

Along with her parents and husband, Jane was preceded in death by siblings Richard Grove, Donald Grove, Thomas Grove, Maynard Grove, and Ann Kibler, son-in-law Stephen McLaughlin, and a second husband G. Lake.

She will be remembered as a quiet force – a woman of remarkable resilience and deep character. Jane’s creativity and talent shone through in her beautiful yard, delicious meals, and lovely artwork. Her holiday dinners were a popular family tradition, and her home was a warm gathering place filled with laughter, everyone talking at once, and the aroma of something wonderful in the oven. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, Winchester, Virginia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Jane on Thursday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church with Rev. Bjorn Lundberg officiating. Interment will follow the service at Mount Hebron Cemetery. Jane’s grandchildren will serve as her pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jane may be made to AFA (Alzheimer’s Foundation of America) at alzfdn.org.